Riverchase(2)-CS 881025 GARDERE & WYNNE
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS
717 North Harwood Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 979-4500
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
Alan Ratliff
Larry Jackson
FROM: Dean Wilkerson t~~
DATE: October 25, 1988
RE: City Council Agenda Item 17: Interpretation of What
Was Intended for a Riverchase Clubhouse/Restaurant/
Private Club
Attached to this memo is a letter written by Jay Patterson
of the Riverchase Joint Venture dated September 5, 1986,
addressed to the Planning Zoning Commission. This letter was
written to the P&Z prior to the current version of the private
club ordinance being submitted to the City Council with its
current language. As you know, at that time it was planned
that Riverchase would be a very nice, private country club with
a dining area. The attached letter clearly shows that
Riverchase contemplated regulation and compliance by it with
certain requirements, such as square footage of the food
preparation area, the 70% food service requirement and other
restrictions. The main concern of Riverchase at that time was
to make certain that it would be permitted to have a restaurant
with a private club in its clubhouse within residential zoning
and within 300 feet of any adjacent residentially-zoned
district.
I remember that Mr. Patterson was disappointed that his
language did not get included in the final version of the
private club ordinance and it has been his understanding that
Riverchase would be required to adhere to the ordinance or
request variances. It is also apparent from the attached
letter that what Riverchase was contemplating and requesting at
that time was for a quality restaurant operation and not a
carte blanche exemption from the ordinance to allow a snack bar
or whatever is currently being proposed by Riverchase.
T E R R A
; ]
September 5, 1986
Messrs. Ray Smedul, Chairman, Frank Pope, Joe Munsch, Perry
Jasiecki and Steve Eberhardt of the Coppell Planning and Zoning
Commission
Gentlemen:
Up to this point we have been inactive in the liquor ordinance
discussion because we knew the members of the City Council and
the Planning and Zoning Commission intended to permit a normal
golf course clubhouse operation at Riverchase. As you know, this
intention is supported by the desire of the community to have a
championship golf course supported by a first class clubhouse
operation in Coppell.
As far back as 18 months ago the Council and the Commission had
both approved the Riverchase zoning which includes a Specific Use
Permit covering 150 acres for a golf course and clubhouse without
any restrictions on location, beverages served or any other phase
of operation of the course or clubhouse. The zoning ordinance
includes our conceptual site plan showing the clubhouse next to a
tract zoned single family (SF-0).
We are at a critical stage in development of the golf course.
Shaping is finished for all but five holes. Irrigation is about
half complete and planting has been rescheduled for May 1 of next
year to avoid loss by freeze because of immature root structures.
The professional operators of the course should be selected
within the next 120 days.
We, therefore, respectfully request you revise the existing draft
of the Coppell Liquor Ordinance by adding a new Section 2A, which
would read as follows:
" SECTION 2A
This Section 2A shall apply notwithstanding any lan-
guage to the contrary contained elsewhere in this ordi-
nance. This ordinance shall fully apply to Tracts 15
and 16 classified as "SF-12 Single Family Residential
District Classification with a special use permit (SUP)
for a Golf Course and Clubhouse" in Coppell City
Ordinance No. 297-A-21 except that:
'I'ERRA COMPANIES
TWO UNCOLN CENTRE
SUIT~ 1370
5420 LSJ FREEWAY
DALLAS. TEXAS 752,'.0
214 97.-: 9444
Page Two
(1) a private club shall be permitted in the
clubhouse facility;
(2) wherever the word "restaurant" appears the
words "clubhouse" shall be substituted;
(3) the food preparation and storage area shall
comprise a minimum of 20% of the square
footage of the area of the clubhouse directly
related to the food or beverage preparation
and service;
(4) at least 70% of the gross sales related to
the preparation of food or beverages shall be
from the sale of food and/or non-alcoholic
beverages and the City may in accordance with
this ordinance require quarterly reporting to
substantiate compliance with such 70%
requirement;
(5) the clubhouse and any private club within the
clubhouse may be located within three hundred
(300) feet from any residential zoned
district; and
(6) paragraph (6) and the second sub-paragraph in
paragraph (7) (D) concerning one (1) year time
limits and paragraph (10) concerning trans-
ferability shall not apply. ~i~ ~//.
We appreciate your consideration of this request an~ will be
happy to appear before you at the appropriate time to answer any
questions you may have. This request is not intended to create
special Drivileges for th~ Riverchase golf course and clubhouse
operation ~ to include us within the spirit of' an ordinance
which was written for restaurants and not golf clubhouses an~
without consideration of the location set for the Riverchase
clubhouse. Thank you.
Sincerely,
RIVERCHASE JOINT VENTURE
By Terra Land Development Co.,
Venture Manager
By:
President
JP/sm
cc: Mr. Frank Trando, acting City Manager
Mr. I.arry Jackson, City Attorney